My Hundred Years!

I have been standing here, right at this corner of the huge bit of green land, for countless years. I hear them say it is a century now!

Standing here this morning, soaking in the rays of the rising sun, with the chirping of the birds, memories of my life come flooding to me. Wonder what it is about today, but something felt special.

Like my other friends and siblings, I had a very humble beginning too. A little boy brought me home from a forest nearby, and chose a spot for me and there I have stood for the past century ! Unwavering and unabated - a silent spectator to the change of times.

There have been storms, floods, droughts and many a scorching summers. But, I have seen that life goes on. Nothing ever seems to stop for anyone.

It had been a while since I was rooted here, and I remember that day when the little boy who put me here, came along with a rope, and a tire. His father I think was with him and he helped him tie a swing to my now sturdy left arm. The little boy squealed with delight and jumped off and on the swing. I felt as happy as him :)

A few seasons later I saw the little boy come all by himself, followed by an older lady in the distance and come and sit on a bench at my feet for a long time, silently playing with a tiny car and the older lady who seemed to be his mom, sobbed away and was silent after what seemed for hours. She was mute, cold, and seemed to be lost in some untold grief when she kept staring into the fading sunset. At last, she stood up and picked up the little boy who was fast asleep in her arms and walked into the fading sunset that had almost turned into darkness - there was something symbolic about the whole scene. There was a twinge in my heart too - I was sad for them.

A long time later, I found out that the little boy had lost his father.

I kept seeing the little boy time and again - he would come once in a way, run around me, hug me, hide behind me and run back in the direction he came from. It always made me happy to see him. And he seemed to be growing, just like me :)

I was busy living my life too - seasons came and seasons went. Everything that took place around me left it's mark on me in some way - I was growing wiser and older. I saw families of birds come and go, my friends around me turn colors, leaves fall. I simply stood there - tall, strong and firm on the ground.

After I had waited many many seasons, the little boy finally came!! He was not alone :) he had a girl with him !. They seemed to be so happy together! They sat on the same bench at my foot for a few hours, talked and laughed and at the end were suddenly silent. I was worried. They seemed to have had a fight.And, after a little while, the little boy said he was sorry to have hurt her, and they were fine again! I was so very happy to see them go in the direction they came from, hand-in-hand!

Seasons went by, rains came and went and one summer morning I saw the little boy, now turned into a grownup man come towards me with a tiny little fellow in tow! He addressed him as son! They had a rope and a tire and he made the swing for his little one too, who squealed and jumped just like his dad had - many many years ago.

Suddenly I heard a crackle from right side, and before I could react the rope of the swing broke and came lose. But, the little boy quickly rushed with his arms open to catch his little one from falling and actually did it! I was so relieved that his son was caught mid-air and not hurt falling on the ground. My heart warmed up just seeing this.

I had to wait for many many seasons to go past me before I saw my little boy again - when he did come, he had another little replica of himself in tow - and I was overjoyed to hear him address the little one as grandson :) The act of the swing was replayed! I swayed with glee !

This morning, as I stood I felt as if all time was coming to a stand still. What was it that I felt ? I didn't know. Amidst all my thoughts, I heard a roar. Then I saw - a few men with saws were approaching me. I felt a strange anxiety within me. And before I realized, they had begun to tear me apart from right to left!.

I felt a searing pain shoot through my body, I could hardly gather my wits about me. I felt a mixed feeling of both pain and my body float away to something unknown - it was bitter sweet.

As I began to fall, I lifted my head for one last time and there I saw my little boy looking at me - his face as withered as my own, with a look in his eyes as if all were lost in the world, helpless - with tears streaming down his eyes !

I began to fall, me a hundred year old tree - happy to see it all come to an end. I had seen enough for a lifetime!

Goodbye little boy...take care of yourself, and maybe I will see you soon.....